Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Monday, 02 March 2026, 18:04 / Updated on Monday, 02 March 2026 18:04
Dorinel Munteanu (57 years old), Hermannstadt's coach, held the press conference prior to the away duel with U Cluj, in the “quarters” of the Romanian Betano Cup. The game was scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, starting at 19:00.
He explained that he will use the best footballers at his disposal and respect the competition. They expect a complicated match, however Hermannstadt will force qualification to the semi-finals of the competition.
Asked about meeting FCSB in the play-outs, Dorinel explained that Elias Charalambous' squad must get used to the idea. Even if she will not be involved in the fight to avoid relegation, let her try to get used to such matches.
VIDEO | Dorinel Munteanu, statements before U Cluj – Hermannstadt: “Let FCSB also see how it is in the play-out”
“We treated FCSB as a champion, that's how it was in the last two years. But I was not surprised by the evolution of FCSB in this championship. Of course, the hope was that they could recover, they didn't recover and get used to the play-out as well.
To see what the play-out is like when there is no longer the pressure of first place, but the pressure not of relegation, but of less enjoyable games, if I may say so. Because the play-out will be a very tough fight or war for all teams.
The cup remains a goal for us from all points of view. Firstly because we respect this competition, secondly I won't do any… I know, I won't rest any player or other, because I have a fairly rigid numerical batch, taking into account that we also have a few suspended.
And I still have some minor medical issues. That's why, and we all know, in this batch there will be 20-21 players who will be on the playing list, so all those who will be moving we will do our best to go to the next stage because we have to continue what we achieved in the last game.
First of all I want to keep our mood high, the energy… the boys are also connected to the game, to the competition, because the discussion I had with them was clear: that they themselves have to prove to themselves that the position in the ranking or their game or the lack of results was not based on value, but on circumstances, if I can say so. So we need continuity”, said Dorinel Munteanu, in the press conference.
A new player needs some time to settle. It's clear that a lot of the players we brought in, or some of them, didn't fit in very well. But with their help, with my help, with the help of those who are around them, we create conditions for them to settle in very quickly and their yield to be maximum, because we don't have time.
Time is pressing us, competition is pressing us, the objective is pressing us. So it has to come from everyone this desire to play well, to win, to do good things for the club.
Balaure is on the right track. He came in with the team, he's not 100%, that's clear, I mean he's 100% physically, but he's holding back a bit in contact and so on, because he had a very difficult injury, we all know. But I hope that in the first or second game of the play-out I will use him or that he will be part of the team. He is in the squad, but for atmosphere for now.– Dorinel MunteanuHermannstadt's coach
